Receiving a search query that does not include one or more words that name any geographical location

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method is disclosed that includes receiving on a mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location, providing one or more search results in response to the search query, the search results each being associated with a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of the computing device icons corresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key on the computing device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority under 35U.S.C. §120 to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/601,358, filed on Aug. 31,2012, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/107,155, filed on May 13, 2011, which is a continuation ofand claims priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 11/557,460, filed onNov. 7, 2006, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,945,546, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/734,675, filed on Nov. 7,2005, and entitled “Local Search and Mapping for Mobile Devices”, whichare considered part of (and are incorporated by reference in) thedisclosure of this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This description relates to user interfaces, and more particularly togenerating customized graphical user interfaces for mobile computingdevices.

BACKGROUND

Handheld mobile devices, such as cellular telephones and personaldigital assistants (PDAs), are becoming increasingly powerful both interms of processing power and the ability to provide access to data. Theusefulness of these enhancements is often limited, however, by aninability of mobile devices to display data effectively due to the smallsize of the display, to the limited bandwidth available for wirelesslydelivering data, and to mobile device's limited memory resourcesrelative to laptop and desktop computers.

There are beginning to be some applications that are specificallydesigned for handheld mobile devices. Many such applications are basedon application development platforms also specifically designed formobile devices, such as Java 2 Platform Micro Edition (J2ME) and BinaryRuntime Environment for Wireless (BREW). Some applications that aredesigned for retrieving data from a remote location to a handheld mobiledevice are browsers that correspond to conventional browser applicationsin that they enable users to enter uniform resource locators (URLs) toretrieve information from any internet web site. Other applicationsenable data to be retrieved by launching a separate browser applicationin response, for example, to selecting a hyperlink in a user interface.In addition, specialized, limited functionality applications areavailable that provide a mechanism to access data from dedicatedapplication service providers.

One useful application for mobile devices is that of “local search.”Such an application allows a user to specify a particular geographiclocation or area when submitting a search so that the search resultsrelate to that location or area. For example, a user may enter “dim sumrestaurants 56523” to be provided a list of all dim sum restaurants inthe 56523 zip code. Or the user might submit “hotels near LAX” toreceive a list or map showing all hotels near Los Angeles Internationalairport. Such local search can be particularly helpful to users ofmobile devices because they are often looking for information aboutthings around them, e.g., attempting to find directions, from their car,to a particular store or building. Thus, there is a need for computerprograms or interfaces that provide users with convenient access toinformation and useful presentation of that information.

SUMMARY

In general, this document relates to methods and systems for allowingusers of mobile devices having, for example, relatively small screensand slow data transmission rates (or high latency) to interact withthose devices in a convenient and helpful manner. As one example, a usercan be provided with convenient approaches for panning and zooming aview such as a map. The user may also be provided with techniques fordisplaying and interacting with local search results. Moreover, the usermay be provided with techniques for generating directions for a travelroute, and for interacting with the direction information.

In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is disclosed. Themethod comprises receiving on a mobile device a search query associatedwith a geographic location, providing one or more search results inresponse to the search query, the search results each being associatedwith a geographic location, and presenting on a graphical display of thecomputing device icons corresponding to each search result and alsocorresponding to a key on the computing device. The method may furthercomprise joining the search query with a geographic location previouslyassociated with the mobile device. The one or more search results may bepresented as numbered icons corresponding to numbers on a telephonekeypad. The method may additionally comprise presenting in response to aselection of a first key initial textual or graphical information abouta first search result. In addition, the method may include presenting inresponse to selection of a second key additional textual or graphicalinformation about the first result. The initial or additional textual orgraphical information may include a click-to-call selection for atelephone number associated with the first search result, or adirections selection that, when selected, provides directions to alocation associated with the first search result.

In some aspects, the method may include presenting on the graphicaldisplay a plurality of waypoint indicators associated with directions tothe location associated with the search result, and presentingdirections associated with each waypoint in response to selections ofeach waypoint. The method may also include storing information aboutrecent queries or locations and submitting the recent a first one of therecent queries or locations in response to a user selection. Moreover,the method may comprise highlighting for selection a first one of theicons and moving the highlighting to a second one of the icons inresponse to a user-entered direction.

In yet other aspects, the method may further comprise presenting nearone or more edges of the graphical display an icon indicating thepresence of search results located off the display. The geographiclocation may be provided as part of the search query.

In another implementation, a tangible media is disclosed that carriesinstructions that, when executed, perform steps comprising receiving ona mobile device a search query associated with a geographic location,providing one or more search results in response to the search query,the search results each being associated with a geographic location, andpresenting on a graphical display of the computing device iconscorresponding to each search result and also corresponding to a key onthe computing device. The one or more search results may be presented asnumbered icons corresponding to numbers on a telephone keypad. Also, themedia may further carry instructions that when executed present inresponse to a selection of a first key initial textual or graphicalinformation about a first search result. Further instructions maypresent in response to selection of a second key additional textual orgraphical information about the first result.

In some aspects, instructions may present on the graphical display aplurality of waypoint indicators associated with directions to thelocation associated with the search result, and present directionsassociated with each waypoint in response to selections of eachwaypoint. In addition, the media may store information about recentqueries or locations and carrying instructions that when executed submita first one of the recent queries or locations in response to a userselection.

In another implementation, a mobile computer-implemented local searchsystem is disclosed. The system includes an interface to receivelocation information and to provide, in response, corresponding map andsearch result information, map tile storage holding a plurality of tilesfor display with the interface, and means for displaying search resultsthat are indexed to data entry keys that are part of the interface.

The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanyingdrawings and the description below. Other features, objects, andadvantages of the will be apparent from the description and drawings,and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows displays for a panning operation on a mobile device.

FIGS. 2a-2b show displays for a zooming operation on a mobile device.

FIGS. 3a-3b show displays for a local searching operation on a mobiledevice.

FIGS. 4a-4b show displays for a directions operation on a mobile device.

FIG. 5 shows a display for a move map dialog on a mobile device.

FIG. 6a is a flow chart showing actions for zooming and panning agraphical display on a mobile device.

FIG. 6b is a flow chart showing actions for displaying menus on a mobiledevice.

FIG. 6c is a flow chart showing the display of local search results on amobile device.

FIG. 6d is a flow chart showing actions for displaying drivingdirections on a mobile device.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a system for providing mappinginformation.

FIG. 8 shows a screen shot of a mobile local search sign up page.

FIG. 9 shows a screen shot of a mobile local search device selectionpage.

FIG. 10 shows a screen shot of a mobile local search device selectionpage.

FIG. 11 shows block diagrams of general computing systems.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows displays for a panning operation on a mobile device. View(a) shows a device having a map displayed on it. The map provides a viewat a certain level of zoom of a geographic area—here centered aroundRedwood City, Calif. A user may pan on the map by using amulti-direction selection key, such as that shown in the middle of thedevice (e.g., cellular telephone) in the Figure. Specifically, such akey may allow a user to press on its upper portion to move up, on itsright to move right, etc. In this manner, the key can operate much likea flat joystick. Numeric keys on the device may also be used for moving,such as the 6 key to move right, the 4 key to move left, etc. Otherinput mechanisms for panning, including voice input, may also be used asappropriate.

When a user selects to pan the map in a particular direction, the mapmay be regenerated in a number of ways. As one example, the map may becomprised of a number of pre-composed tiles that are in the form ofraster images. A displayed map may be made up of the tiles around thecenter of the map sufficient to fill the display and perhaps extendsomewhat beyond the display. The device may then move these tiles inunison when a user requests a pan, so that the full image of the mapmoves smoothly. The panning motion for each press of a key may beindexed to a particular distance, such as a single row of tiles or aportion of a row of tiles.

If the user pans beyond the extent of available tiles, the map may betemporarily displayed with the area for those tiles blank, as shown inview (b) in FIG. 1, along the right edge of the display, where the userhas panned to the right from view (a). Each of the missing tiles maythen be acquired, such as by downloading from a remote server, in apredetermined manner so as to fill in the blank remaining in the mapwhile the viewer waits. In this manner, the viewer may still see all ofthe original map information in detail throughout the download process,which may be preferable to wholly regenerating an entirely new displayfor which the user will have to wait—particularly on mobile deviceshaving long latency times.

In addition, by using tiles, panning may occur through methods otherthan simply erasing a prior map and replacing it with a wholly new mapthat has “jumped” over a predetermined distance. For example, when auser moves a certain direction, crosshairs that represent the desiredlocation—typically the center of the map—may jump to the new panned-tolocation, and the map may then slide smoothly (e.g., in an animatedmanner) over until the cross hairs are again in the middle of thedisplay. During or after the adjustment, additional tiles may bedownloaded or loaded from a cache as necessary.

Smooth map scrolling may also occur by moving the map as long as a userholds down a directional button rather than having the map jump in largeincrements. The speed of the pan may be pre-set, set by the user, or maybe a function of how long the button has been held down (with fasterpanning the longer the button has been held down, either as astep-function increase in speed, a linear increase in panning speed, orsome other functional relationship of speed to time-held). Panning mayalso occur by moving the map in larger incremental jumps (i.e., to thenew location), with the crosshairs staying in the middle of the display.For flexibility, the type of scanning may be selected, such as based ona device performance rating (e.g., fixed when the device or applicationis deployed), an option available to the user, or set dynamically basedon measured performance.

Additional tiles may also be downloaded around those displayed on a mapand cached in local memory on the device. In this manner, a user can panaround an initial image to a limited extent without forcing the downloadof additional tiles. In other words, the amount of map display stored ona device may extend beyond the edges of the actual display so that smallmotions can be conducted without the need for downloads, and also sothat more of the map can be seen by the user even before additionaltiles are downloaded.

The tiles may also differ from each other based on the zoom level atwhich a user is viewing the map. In particular, an entire map, e.g., ofthe United States, may be displayed using multiple layers of tiles. Thehighest layer would have very few tiles, which might simply be renderedwith state lines on them. At a closer zoom level, regional details suchas counties or interstate highways may be shown, and additional tileswill likewise be provided. At a closer level that may involve thousandsor millions or more of tiles, individual streets may be shown. Eachlayer may have its own set of tiles, rendered at a particular resolutionfor the map, with each closer level having more resolution and moretiles.

The display may be generated using dynamic download of map tiles, andcaching of tile information. Such an approach is disclosed more fully inco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/051,534, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

Also, FIG. 1 shows the use of certain softkeys, which may be keys whosechanging functions are indicated by a changing display. In FIG. 1, thesoftkeys are located in the upper corners of the keypad, and correspondto a “zoom” feature (which is shown as “zoom−” to indicate that pressingthe key will zoom out) and a “menu” feature (which will raise a menu ofchoices on the display), though other appropriate features may beprovided. Other possible softkeys will be apparent from the remainingfigures. The softkeys are intuitively coupled to the on-screenselections by virtue of their physical alignment with the selections(e.g., directly under the selections). In FIG. 1, the softkeys permitthe invocation of a zoom function (left key), as described below, andalso permit a user to call up a menu containing a plurality of menuchoices (right key).

The maps provided for display on a mobile device may differ from thosenormally provided to full-featured desktop computers. For example,because mobile displays generally have a limited display area, streetnames and other identifiers may be repeated more often to ensure thatthey will be shown on a smaller display. In addition, different colorsmay be used to accommodate displays having lesser color depth than thoseof full-featured computers.

FIGS. 2a-2b show displays for a zooming operation on a mobile device. Amap may be displayed initially at a particular zoom level that may bepreset, determined by the device, or determined by a remote system, suchas a server that stores and provides tiles in response to requests fromdevices. For example, where a search is a local search that includes azip code or area code, the zoom level may be selected so that the areadisplayed with the map approximates the reach of the area code. Also,where a map is returning search results, the zoom level may be set justwider than the extent of the search results, so that all results can beseen, but the results are as zoomed-in as is practical.

A user may then zoom in or out on the display, such as a map. In FIG. 2,the “zoom out” command is represented by the left softkey denoted as“zoom−” (but which could also be denoted as “zoom out”). The rightsoftkey may then be the “zoom+” or “zoom in” key, though it is notlabeled as such in the Figure. The zoom in key may also be an “OK” keyon the keypad, such as a key in the middle of the selection key. Otherkeys may also represent zooming functions, and zooming may occur as partof a broader course of actions by a user, rather than simply being anisolated command. For example, softkeys for zooming may be displayedonly after certain menu selections are made with respect to a mappingapplication, or such softkeys may be displayed automatically inappropriate contexts.

As shown in view (a) of FIG. 2(a), zooming in is aided by the use of azoom box, which is simply an outline that approximates the shape of thedevice display and circumscribes the area that will be shown after thezooming in has occurred. The zoom box may also comprise a shaded area orother appropriate visual indicator of the zoomed in area. An initialzoom box is shown if the user selects “zoom in” once, and boxes ofdecreasing size, representing further zoom levels, may be displayed asthe user presses the key additional times. Subsequent pressing of a“zoom out” key after the pressing of a “zoom in” key may cause the zoombox to get larger as it steps back through wider zooms, and mayultimately result in zooming out (described below) when the zoom boxfills the display.

A user may also move the zoom box around the display, such as by usingdirectional keys (e.g., the control pad or the 2-4-6-8 keys). Forexample, if a user wants to zoom in on a small area in the upperright-hand corner of a currently-displayed map, the user may first pressa “zoom in” key as many times as the user prefers, and then may press“right” and “up” directional keys to move the zoom box over the desiredarea. Such movement may occur in jumps or as smooth panning of the zoombox, e.g., by animating movement of the zoom box an index distance eachtime a directional key is pressed.

A user may begin the process of displaying the zoomed-in display bypressing an appropriate execution key. For example, the user may pressthe middle of the selection key. In addition, the regeneration processmay be triggered by a delay, such as the passage of several hundredmilliseconds after a user has last pressed a zooming-related key.

To make the zooming appear relatively smooth, the image may beregenerated in a number of ways. For example, the portion of the imageinside the zoom box may be initially expanded to fill the entiredisplay, but in less-than-desired (but perhaps smoothed or anti-aliased)resolution. The user may then be provided the opportunity to view thisimage while more detailed information is retrieved for the zoomed-indisplay. The more detailed information may include tiles providing acloser view of the portion of the prior map.

The transition from the original map to the zoomed-in map may occur byany appropriate mechanism. For example, the original, lower-resolutionportion of the initial map may be shown across the display, or may begradually increased in size (with appropriate anti-aliasing or otherup-converting technique to compute the appropriate pixel values at eachsize of the image) until it is shown across the display. Once it hastaken full size, the more detailed image may begin to replace it, suchas by overwriting with scattered pixels from the more detailed imageuntil the whole image is displayed, or through other known approaches totransitioning from lower-resolution to higher-resolution images. Inaddition, map information may be layered, so that a map image is addedat a different time or a different rate than are street names and othersimilar map labels.

Zooming out may occur in a manner similar to that of zooming in, and isshown in views (d) through (f). When the user selects a “zoom out” key,the map being displayed (view (d)) may be made smaller in size withblank space around it (view (e)). If the user presses “zoom out” again,the image may become smaller yet, to a maximum distance of zooming out.Also, if the user then presses a “zoom in” key, the image may get largeruntil it fills the display, and the device may then show zoom boxes asrectangles of decreasing size on the map. View (f) shows the result ofzooming out one degree from the display of view (d).

Though not shown, the user may also move the zoom box for zooming out,so that the new display is not based on the same center point as the olddisplay. Specifically, directional keys may be used to move the box,which may take the form of an outline, as with the zoom box for zoomingin. When the box is moved a particular direction after a zoom out keyhas been selected, the image may be left centered on the screen (as inview (e)), but the outline may move around the image and into the blankspace around it. If the device contains image data for such an area(e.g., the remainder of image tiles around the edge of the initialdisplay), that data may be displayed as the zoom box moves. Also,lower-resolution around the edge of the initial display may also beshown.

The blank area around the display may take on a variety of forms. Forexample, it may be a simple solid color for simplicity. It may also be a“background” or “wallpaper” image, so as to provide the user with thesense that the image is simply layered on top of the device's standarddesktop, such as in the form of a simple widget. In addition, the areamay be provided with logos or other promotional material, includingmaterial relevant to the location being shown, and may be displayed aspart of a program such as the known AdWords or AdSense programs fromGoogle.

The zoomed-out display may be generated from the initial display inmanners similar to that for the zoomed in display above. For example,the initial, but shrunken, view may be first displayed, including in alower resolution than originally displayed, and new images (e.g., in theform of tiles) may be padded around it as they are received. The initialview may stay in the middle, or may ultimately be replaced by a newimage for that area, so as to better coordinate with the new imagesaround it (e.g., if street names or other labels are provided indifferent locations for different zoom levels).

FIGS. 3a-3b show displays for a local searching operation on a mobiledevice. Searching on the device may employ a standard search system on aserver, such as the Google Local service. The information retrieved maybe specially formatted for mobile display, such as by a webserverconnected to the search backend, but configured to provide informationparticularly well-suited for display on a mobile device (e.g., searchresults responsive to a query, but relating to a particular town or zipcode). View (a) in FIG. 3a shows a local search input box, along withexamples of formats that a search may take. When the search input box isdisplayed, the softkeys may change to reflect activities that arehelpful in the entry of data to the search input box.

The user may enter a search request by selecting the “type a new search”hyperlink from the initial view (view (a)), which causes the device toshow an empty search input box (not shown). The user may enter a searchrequest that includes location information, such as a zip or area codeor other information such as “hotels near jfk” or “pizza in sf.” In sucha situation, the server that receives the request will parse out andidentify the location information, and the search will be conductedaround that location. The user may also enter a search request withoutlocation information, such as “dim sum,” “flowers,” or “U Haul.” In sucha situation, the local search may be performed on the area shown on themap when the search is performed, or may be based on a centerpoint thatis the centerpoint of the map (but perhaps covering an area smaller orlarger than that shown in the map). In addition, a location may beassigned for a user to be applied across all searches, or a location maybe determined by the device, such as through GPS measurement. The searchbox may be incorporated directly into the search dialog box also.

A user may then submit the search request, such as by pressing theequivalent of an “enter” key (e.g., pressing the center of a controlpad). The request, with appropriate identifying and other information,may then be transmitted to a remote system, such as a local searchserver system. That system may recognize the request as coming from amobile device, and may format the information accordingly, but mayotherwise perform the search as any other local search. For example, thesystem may return information for nine hits so as to correspond toselections that may be made using the nine positive integers on atypical telephone keypad. (A tenth result may be provided for the 0 keyalso).

Such search results are shown in view (b) of FIG. 3a , where the searchterm was “pizza.” Here, the results are shown in a manner common toGoogle Local search, with pin icons representing search results. Eachpin icon is shown located approximately over the location of the result(e.g., the address of a restaurant or other business), like a push-pinin a map.

Each pin is also given a number that is associated with a key on thekeypad. Pressing the associated key once will cause summary informationfor the search result to be displayed, such as the business name, asshown in view (b). The zoom level may be selected so as to avoid gettingmore than 9 or 10 results, which could not be easily identified with amobile device keypad. Where additional results exist outside the boundsof the display (e.g., because there are many results or because the userwas zoomed in very tightly and display of the search results did notchange the zoom level), other selections may be provided to the user forviewing other search results, such as is shown in view (b). Variousactions may be taken on the information. For example, a user may pressthe “send” or similar button on their device to make a telephoneconnection with the search result—a click to dial transaction.

Also, with mobile devices having small sizes and a limited number ofinput keys, it may be preferable only to display a smaller number ofresults on a map at a time to provide for easier viewing and interactionby a user. Where there are additional “hits” in the area searched, thedisplay may provide some indicator of the presence of those hits locatedoff the initial display. For example, an icon (not shown) could bedisplayed at each edge of the display where there are additional hitsoff that side of the display. Likewise, icons may be shown in thecorners when the hits are located diagonally from the displayed initialmap (e.g., providing eight directions of possible indicators).

The icons may be similar to the pins that represent hits on a fulldesktop display, such as for a desktop computer. For example, the iconsmay simply be circles like the pins, but without extensions below themtoward the map, so as to indicate that they represent hits just as thepins represent hits, but that they are not located over their respectivehits. The icons may also take on a different color than the pins so asto distinguish them, may be provided with additional indicators such asarrows attached to or wrapped around the pin heads, and may also beprovided with a number that may or may not correspond to a key on thedevice's keypad. For example, the number may correspond to the number ofhits located in the direction of the icon. As such, the user may beapprised that panning in a particular direction is more likely to besuccessful than panning in another direction. Such additional directionmay be particularly valuable to a user of a mobile device because such auser may not be able to see very much at one time, and may also havemuch less bandwidth, so that the user has a need to pan more often butmore efficiently also.

Movements with the device may also occur in a manner that appears to auser as animated. For example, tiles may be moved smoothly across adisplay from one panning position to another or from a small zoomed-outor zoomed in display to smoothly enlarge to the post-zoom display size.In addition, when search results are provided, panning toward a resultmay cause the display to snap to the next result, either immediatelyupon entry of a pan command, or when the result is sufficiently close toentering the edge of the display. Moreover, as a user selects differentnumbered search results, the display may automatically pan smoothly fromone result to the next, e.g., placing the new result in the center ornear the center of the display.

The user may also press the key relating to a search result a secondtime (or another key, as prompted) to bring up additional informationabout the result, as shown in view (c). Such information may include anaddress of a business along with its telephone number and other contactinformation. Again, the telephone number may allow for click-to-dialoperations-either by highlighting the number or a “call” hyperlink onthe display and selecting it, or by pressing a “send” or similar buttonwhen the result is displayed.

Additional choices may also be presented to the user. For example, theuser may be provided with options whose selection permits the user toreceive directions to the location of the search result or from thelocation of the search result. The other endpoint for the directions maybe selected in any appropriate manner. For example, where the mobiledevice is GPS-enabled or otherwise location-enabled, the directions maybe computed automatically from a measured location of the device.Alternatively, the user may be asked to enter their current location,and the directions will be provided between the entered location and thelocation of the search result. Also, particular locations may be storedin a history list, and may thus be selected easily by a user. Additionalinformation about a search result may also be shown, and additionaloptions may be provided for selection by a user.

View (d) shows a subsequent search on the device, where a search historyis stored. The display is similar to that in view (a), but now a recentsearch is available for display in a search history. Thus, a hyperlinkfor the search “pizza” appears on the display. This history may behelpful, for example, because it allows a user to do the same search butfor different areas. For example, a traveling salesperson may love aparticular restaurant chain, and may place the name of that chain intofavorites. The salesperson may then repeat that search easily for anytown in which the salesperson is located, and may quickly receiveresults to the search (particularly when an automatic locationidentifier generates the appropriate map). When a user selects an itemfrom the search history, the user may be provided an opportunity to editthe item. If such editing occurs, the edited search request may be addedto the history list.

FIG. 3b shows similar searching processes with more detail. In a firstview, a map is displayed. A user then selects a right softkey associatedby position with the “menu” overlay. Upon selected the softkey, a menuof choices is generated visually over the map, with a portion of the mapshow through around the menu, so that the display more accuratelyapproximates a desktop windowed system with which users are typicallyaware. The user selects “1” and is provided a search box in the thirdview (and the menu box is removed). The box shows recent searches thatthe user may enter simply by using a directional key to move down to oneof the searches, and then press an activation button. The user may alsochoose to type a new search using a URL selection or such an option.

In the example, the user enters “pizza 02138,” a query that may betransmitted to a central server. The server will parse the query apartand look for local information in it. For example, the system may assumethat a 5-digit number in the appropriate location of a query representsa zip code. The system may also assume that food names, when accompaniedby location information such as a zip code, represent an interest inrestaurants. Once the user confirms their query, such as by pushing thecenter of a directional button, the query may be submitted to thecentral server, and the results sent back. The next view shows anexemplary display for such a result. As shown, a single result has beengenerated in response to the search query, and it is a particular pizzaparlor.

The user may be given the option to see additional detail about thesearch result (e.g., by pressing a key such as 1), and such detail isshown in the last display in FIG. 3b . The detail shows the address andtelephone number of the particular search result. In addition, certainoptions with respect to the search result are provided. One of theoptions, for example, causes the mobile device to dial and attempt tocontact the search result, such as a restaurant that takes reservations.In addition, directions relating to the location of the search resultmay also be provided, as described next.

FIGS. 4a-4b show displays for a directions operation on a mobile device.Directions may be, for example, a choice under a “menu” item, along withother options like those just discussed. As just noted, a directionsoperation may also be readily selected from the outcome of a localsearch request. Directions may be shown by a line of contrasting coloror weight overlaid on a map, and may also include a number of waypoints,where the illustrated path changes directions or changes from one roadto another road. Other waypoints may also be provided, such as lookoutsor other points of interest along a path. A user may be provided with amenu to select preferences for particular waypoints that the user wouldlike to have displayed near a route, such as particular stores,government buildings, landmarks, scenic points, etc.

View (a) in FIG. 4(a) shows a first display for entering data forreceiving directions. The view provides a user the ability to enter astarting point for the directions. In the pictured view, a user canselect a point in two ways—by entering an address or similar locationalinformation, and by selecting a point on a map. If the user chooses thefirst option, such as by selecting a corresponding hyperlink, the usermay be provided with an empty data entry box into which an address maybe entered. That address will be sent to a remote system which may thenparse it and determine the address to which it refers, in preparingdirections to return to the device. The user may also choose a locationfrom a “recent places” list which stores location data and names forlocations that have recently been entered into the user's device, or“favorite places” list which displays locations specifically identifiedby the user as favorites (much like favorite web sites in a standard webbrowser). If the user chooses the second option (selecting a location ona map), the dialog will be removed so that the underlying map isdisplayed, and the user may use map navigation (e.g., panning andzooming) as explained above to place the starting point in or near themiddle of the displayed map. The user may then press the center of anavigation key to indicate a selection of the particular startinglocation.

Once the user has entered the starting point, he or she may enter theending point in a similar manner to the entry of the starting point.View (b) shows a dialog for entering end point information. Note againthat the device may track recently identified locations and present themas “recent places” selections, either for starting points or endingpoints, to permit quicker identification of a point by a user. Also,context sensitive softkeys may also be provided, such as an option (inview (a)) to cancel an attempt to receive directions, and an option (inview (b)) to go back to re-select a start point.

Once the start and end points are provided, the remote system (such as aGoogle backend server) may compute a route and transmit it back to thedevice for display. The route may be placed over the map in a particularcolor, with identifiers for the start and end points. For example, thestart point may be a simple green icon, while the end may be a red icon.Also, the path may be in the form of a highlighted or thickened lineover the suggested paths.

A dialog can initially be displayed along with the proposed directions.The dialog (see view (c) in FIG. 4a ) shows a route overview, e.g., inthe form of the start and end points, and a computed distance for thetrip. An additional dialog may be provided showing the user which key topress to start the directions, or a user may simply scroll down throughthe main dialog to get to the directions. The directions may be simplyshort-hand statements typical of driving directions well known in theart.

A user can use the keypad (or voice commands, or even GPS readings) totraverse through the route turns, with navigational informationappearing in a pop up window in much the same way as the route overviewinformation. A user may move forward and back through a route, forinstance, by pressing the 3 and 1 keys, respectively (as shown in thebottom display of FIG. 4b ). The device may also display text or iconsfor cues to the user about this functionality.

The map may additionally animate with the actual progress along a pathas a user moves from turn to turn. For example, the text indication fora waypoint may jump from one waypoint to the next, but the tiles may bepanned smoothly so that a first waypoint is initially positioned nearthe middle of the screen and then a second waypoint is moved onto thescreen (if it is initially off the screen) and then into the middle ofthe screen. Appropriate tiles may be retrieved, in a tile-based system,to show the map between the two waypoints. Also, the map may rotate sothat the user's course on the map is always view-northward (i.e., to thetop of the device).

FIG. 5 shows a display for a move map dialog on a mobile device. Thisfunctionality allows a user to call up a move map dialog at anyappropriate point when using the device, and to select a new location onwhich to center the map. The entry may simply include an address enteredin a text entry box, as shown. Also, a history may also be maintained sothat a user can simply select one of the recently used locations,without having to type an entire address.

When a map is moved, the device or the remote system with which thedevice is in communication may set an appropriate initial level for themap. For example, where the address is a simple street address, the zoomlevel may be very close. When the address is as broad as a zip code, thezoom level may be selected so as to substantially match that area.

FIG. 6a is a flow chart 600 showing actions for zooming and panning agraphical display on a mobile device. The flow chart 600 shows actionsthat may occur like those for rendering the views shown in FIGS. 1, 2 a,and 2 b above. At box 602, a location request is initially received. Therequest may be received directly from a user, such as by a clientdevice, or may also be received at a server providing mappinginformation. At box 604, the appropriate zoom level for the request maybe determined, and tiles for that zoom level may be retrieved from adatabase of image tiles. The tiles may be computed to be all tiles acertain distance on each side of a point, such as a location provided inthe location request (which may be listed as a standard address, a GPScoordinate, or another appropriate location descriptor). At box 606, themap tiles, or a portion of the map tiles (e.g., where tiles beyond theedge of the allowable display area are clipped off) are provided to adevice (where a central server selects the tiles) and are displayed onthe device.

With the map displayed to a user, the user may be provided with a numberof options for interacting with the map. In this example, three distinctmap movement options are illustrated. A first option involves panningthe map, a second option involves zooming in on the map, and a thirdoption involves zooming out on the map.

In the first, panning, option, a user makes a selection to pan (box608). The selection may involve, for example, pressing on one side of adirectional key, or by pressing an appropriately numbered button on atelephone keypad. Such selection may cause the map to immediately moveone indexed position in the direction selected (box 610). The selectionmay also cause the mobile device to make a request for additional tilesto fill in the new space (box 612). That new space may be a blank areaon the screen or a blank area off but near the screen, such as wheretiles around the screen have previously been loaded, and the pan thenrequires additional tiles around the newly displayed screen to be loadedin anticipation for another pan selection. Where appropriate, any newlyfetched tiles may be added to the display. The fetching of tiles mayalso be delayed, such as to wait for a regeneration selection from auser. Such an approach may be appropriate, for example, where there is aper-communication charge for a system or where latency is large so thata single transmission is preferred only after a final decision has beenmade about the appropriate location for the pan. At box 630, the user isthen provided an opportunity to pan again or to carry out other actions.

The second option—zooming in—occurs in response to a “zoom in” command(box 614), which may be sensed, for example, from the pressing of thecenter of a directional key. Upon receiving the command, a zoom boxoutline may be drawn over the map, such as in an area circumscribing apredetermined portion in the center of the map and having a shape thatmatches the shape of the overall display (box 616). The regeneration ofthe map at the zoomed in resolution may again occur after identificationof a zoomed in level, or may await an explicit command for regenerationfrom the user (box 618). The regeneration, when it occurs, may happen byreplacing the prior tile with new, higher resolution, tiles as the newtiles are retrieved (box 620). (The tiles may be higher resolution inthat they could have more pixels, or they may have the same number ofpixels, but may show less area and more detail because they show only azoomed in view). To make the transition smoother, the original tiles mayinitially be upscaled, and may then be replaced with new zoomed intiles, so that initially, a slightly blurred version of the view isshown, and is then replaced with a sharper version. Again, with the newview of the map displayed, the user may be given the opportunity to makeother selections.

In the third option—zooming out—a user again starts the process bymaking a zoom out selection, which may occur, for example, by pressingan appropriately configured softkey, as shown above (box 622). Theuser's device may immediately re-render the existing tiles at a reducedsize in a zoon box (as shown above), such as by removing pixels from theoriginal tile images (box 624). Again, the activation of the zoomprocess may occur immediately or otherwise automatically, or may awaitexplicit activation by the user (box 626). When the zoom is activated,the device may cause a central server to select from storage appropriatetiles at the new zoom level, and to deliver the tiles to the device forsubsequent display of the tiles (box 628). The display may again besmoothed such as by gradually replacing the existing reduced tiles, withthe new tiles.

FIG. 6b is a flow chart 636 showing actions for displaying menus on amobile device. The flow chart 636 shows actions that may occur likethose for rendering the views shown in FIGS. 2b, 3b, and 4b above. Inthe initial steps, a map is displayed for a defined area, such as byfirst receiving a location request (box 638). The request may beautomatically generated such as by a GPS-enabled device, or may involvemanual input, such as the entry by a user of a street address orselection by a user of a listed address. A zoom level for the locationmay then be determined and tiles for a map at that location at theappropriate zoom level retrieved (such as by a central server) (box640). The zoom level may be determined by various appropriatemechanisms, such as by determining the geographic breadth of theprovided address. For example, if the address is for an entire zip code,the entire area for the zip code may be displayed, and a zoom level thatwill permit display of the entire zip code may be selected (box 642).

With the map displayed, a user may make a selection to have a pop overmenu displayed on top of the map (boxes 644, 646). The menu may providethe user with a variety of choices. Here, each choice is indexed to akey on a telephone key pad for easy entry by a user, and is shown inflow chart 636 by a numbered circle. The first selection is “search,”which will cause the search box shown in FIG. 6c to be displayed (box648). The second selection is “directions,” which will cause thedirections entry box shown in FIG. 6d to be displayed (box 650). Thethird selection is “move map,” which will cause the map selections boxshown in FIG. 6a to be displayed (box 652), as will the sixth selectionof “zoom.” (box 656).

Other selections involve lesser interaction with the user. For example,selection of the fourth option, “satellite/map view,” causes the form ofinformation displayed in the map to change to a satellite photo if it ispresently a map, and vice-versa (box 654). The label in the menu forthis selection will also alternate to the choice that is opposite towhat is currently displayed in the map when a selection occurs.Selection of the seventh option, “help,” will cause a help menu to bedisplayed (box 658) in a well-known manner, which may include asearchable index of help topics. Likewise, selection of the eighthoption, “quit,” will return the device from the mapping application orfunction to its standard functions (box 660).

FIG. 6c is a flow chart 662 showing the display of local search resultson a mobile device. The flow chart 662 shows actions that may occur likethose for rendering the views shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b above. When auser makes a selection to conduct a local search (i.e., a search whoseresults are connected with a location, such as a country, town, or zipcode), the user's device may display a search box, and the box may bedisplayed over a map if the user was previously using a mapping function(box 664). The user may then provide a query to the device and thedevice may in turn encode the query and provide it to a central searchengine server (box 666). For example, a user may enter “Chinese food”and the user's device may append a default location (such as the user'shome zip code, or the coordinates for the center of the currentlydisplayed map) and submit the combined query to a search engine's “localsearch” function. The server may generate search results (e.g.,information about Chinese restaurants in the user's home area) alongwith location information (e.g., coordinates) associated with eachresult, and may transmit the results to the device (box 668).

Upon receiving the results, the user's device may display the resultsover the existing map, or may generate a new map if the resultscorrelate to a different area. The display of the results may, tominimize clutter on the map, involve displaying icons representative ofeach result at or near the location of the result, if the location canbe determined. Each icon may be provided with a label that correspondsto a key on the device, such as the numbers 1-9 or 0-9 for a cellulartelephone (box 670). Such a correlation may make selection of one ormore results for further review much easier for the user. At box 672, auser selects a numbered button corresponding to one of the displayedsearch results, and detail about the result is displayed, such as in abubble pointing to the result icon.

At box 674, a user further makes a selection to see additionalinformation about the particular result and/or to have access toselections for taking action with respect to the result. For example,the user may be provided with a clink-to-call link or icon (box 676),whose selection may cause the device to place a telephone call to atelephone number associated with the search result (box 678). The usermay also choose to have directions generated from their current location(e.g., the center of the map) to the particular result (box 680). Theuser may also choose to conduct a new search or to edit the existingsearch (box 682).

FIG. 6d is a flow chart 683 showing actions for displaying drivingdirections on a mobile device. The flow chart 683 shows actions that mayoccur like those for rendering the views shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b above.A user may first choose to have a directions menu displayed (box 684).The user may then choose to enter first and second endpoints for thedirections (boxes 685, 686). As explained above, the endpoints may beentered as the current center of the map, as an address, as a “recentplaces” selection, or by other appropriate mechanisms. The secondendpoint may be entered in similar manners. With the two endpointsselected, the device may submit, such as to a central server, a requestfor generating a route, and may receive a response with routeinformation (box 687). The route information may be provided in a mannerthat the route may be overlaid over a map for display to the user. Aswith other actions disclosed herein, such actions may be implementedusing Java, Javascript, XML, or a combination such as AJAX. Indicatorsfor discrete waypoints along the path may also be provided, so that anicon can be displayed at each waypoint, and a detail bubble may bedisplayed when traversing the route from waypoint to waypoint. The routemay then be displayed as an overlay on a map for a portion or all of theroute (which may depend on the zoom level), and an overview showing theapproximate distance and travel time for the route, may also bedisplayed (box 688). Finally, travel along the route may be animated,either automatically (e.g., using GPS signals from the user's device asthe device travels the route) or manually (e.g., as the user pressesback and forward buttons to move from one waypoint to the next). As eachwaypoint is approached or traversed, an information bubble may pop up toshow text for the directions to the next waypoint (box 689).

FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a system 700 for providing mappinginformation. The system 700 may include a mapping server 708 incommunication with a number of remote mobile devices, such as mobiledevice 702. The communication may occur through an appropriatelyconfigured network, such as the internet 706, and one or more privatenetworks, such as cellular data network 704. Mapping server 708 maycommunicate through interface 710, which may include, for example, oneor more servers, such as web servers. Interface 710 may receive messagesfrom devices such as device 702, interpret the messages, and route themas appropriate to other components in mapping server 708 (which itselfmay include one or more servers).

A location resolver 712 in mapping server 708 may receive informationsuch as an English-language address, parse the address, and convert itto a location in a common format, such as GPS coordinates. The locationresolver may then communicate with a map generator 714, which may beconfigured to determine which tiles, of various tiles stored by system700, to be displayed by device 702. For example, map generator 714 maydetermine an appropriate zoom level for a map and may determine whichtiles associated with that zoom level are needed for a proper display ofthe map. Map generator 714 may then make a request to tile selector 718for the needed tiles. The tiles may be stored, for example, in a fulltiles database 720 and a mobile tiles database 722. Such storage mayallow the various components of mapping server 708 to serve both mobileand desktop clients as is needed. Information such as header informationmay be analyzed to determine if a client is mobile or non-mobile.Similar information can be provided from both forms of clients (e.g.,the location information and requests may be formatted in similarmanners) so that the same modules may server both to the extentpossible.

Map generator 714 may also be in communication with search engine 716,and may receive information, such as local search results, from searchengine 716. The search results may also include location informationassociated with each search result, so that map generator 714 maygenerate an icon to be overlaid on a map in the correct location for theresult. In addition, map generator may reformat textual information foreach search result, such as by selecting information for balloons to bedisplayed with each result, and formatting the informationappropriately.

The search engine 716 may draw on a number of databases in providinginformation to the device 702, either directly or through map generator714. For example, the search engine 716 may provide a search on one ormore corpuses of documents, such as stored in corpus database 726. Thecorpuses may be divided in several manners, such as separate corpusesfor web search, local search, image search, blog search, shoppingsearch, book search, and the like. To increase the efficiency ofsearching, an index database 728 may be provided to serve as an index ofthe documents in one or more corpuses. In addition, an ads database 724may also be provided, and may be accessed by search engine 716 toproduce advertisements that relate to entered search queries. Suchadvertisements may be delivered with mapping information and/or withsearch results, and may be displayed as appropriate on device 702.

FIG. 8 shows a screen shot of a mobile local search sign up page. Thedisplay shows an exemplary screen of a mobile phone, along withdirections for using the system. A “Get Started” button may be selectedto take the user to a screen that allows configuration of particularsoftware for their system.

FIG. 9 shows a screen shot of a mobile Local search device selectionpage. This particular page has been almost fully filled out by a user.In general, the leftmost of the four displayed columns is the onlycolumn shown. Once a user selects a carrier, the second column fillswith phone brands supported by that carrier. The user may then selectone of those brands, which will cause the third column to fill withavailable models from that manufacturer. Where an image of a particularmodel is available, the picture may be shown, as mobile phone customersoften do not know the model number of their device, but can easily pickit up and compare it to the images on the screen. The user may alsochange the columns while filling out the form, and the dependent columnsto the right will be changed to reflect, e.g., the models of phonesavailable from the newly-selected manufacturer.

FIG. 10 shows a screen shot of a mobile local search device selectionpage. This screen may be displayed after the user has chosen to proceedfrom the screen of FIG. 7. The screen explains to a user how to accessthe data files the user will need to use services like those describedabove. A subsequent visit by the user with the mobile device may resultin code (e.g., for J2ME) being downloaded to the user's device.

FIG. 11 shows block diagrams of general computing systems 800, 850.Computing device 800 is intended to represent various forms of digitalcomputers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personal digitalassistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and other appropriatecomputers. Computing device 850 is intended to represent various formsof mobile devices, such as personal digital assistants, cellulartelephones, smartphones, and other similar computing devices. Thecomponents shown here, their connections and relationships, and theirfunctions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limitimplementations of the inventions described and/or claimed in thisdocument.

Computing device 800 includes a processor 802, memory 804, a storagedevice 806, a high-speed interface 808 connecting to memory 804 andhigh-speed expansion ports 810, and a low speed interface 812 connectingto low speed bus 814 and storage device 806. Each of the components 802,804, 806, 808, 810, and 812, are interconnected using various busses,and may be mounted on a common motherboard or in other manners asappropriate. The processor 802 can process instructions for executionwithin the computing device 800, including instructions stored in thememory 804 or on the storage device 806 to display graphical informationfor a GUI on an external input/output device, such as display 816coupled to high speed interface 808. In other implementations, multipleprocessors and/or multiple buses may be used, as appropriate, along withmultiple memories and types of memory. Also, multiple computing devices800 may be connected, with each device providing portions of thenecessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers,or a multi-processor system).

The memory 804 stores information within the computing device 800. Inone implementation, the memory 804 is a computer-readable medium. In oneimplementation, the memory 804 is a volatile memory unit or units. Inanother implementation, the memory 804 is a non-volatile memory unit orunits.

The storage device 806 is capable of providing mass storage for thecomputing device 800. In one implementation, the storage device 806 is acomputer-readable medium. In various different implementations, thestorage device 806 may be a floppy disk device, a hard disk device, anoptical disk device, or a tape device, a flash memory or other similarsolid state memory device, or an array of devices, including devices ina storage area network or other configurations. In one implementation, acomputer program product is tangibly embodied in an information carrier.The computer program product contains instructions that, when executed,perform one or more methods, such as those described above. Theinformation carrier is a computer- or machine-readable medium, such asthe memory 804, the storage device 806, memory on processor 802, or apropagated signal.

The high speed controller 808 manages bandwidth-intensive operations forthe computing device 800, while the low speed controller 812 manageslower bandwidth-intensive operations. Such allocation of duties isexemplary only. In one implementation, the high-speed controller 808 iscoupled to memory 804, display 816 (e.g., through a graphics processoror accelerator), and to high-speed expansion ports 810, which may acceptvarious expansion cards (not shown). In the implementation, low-speedcontroller 812 is coupled to storage device 806 and low-speed expansionport 814. The low-speed expansion port, which may include variouscommunication ports (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, Ethernet, wireless Ethernet)may be coupled to one or more input/output devices, such as a keyboard,a pointing device, a scanner, or a networking device such as a switch orrouter, e.g., through a network adapter.

The computing device 800 may be implemented in a number of differentforms, as shown in the Figure. For example, it may be implemented as astandard server 820, or multiple times in a group of such servers. Itmay also be implemented as part of a rack server system 824. Inaddition, it may be implemented in a personal computer such as a laptopcomputer 822. Alternatively, components from computing device 800 may becombined with other components in a mobile device (not shown), such asdevice 850. Each of such devices may contain one or more of computingdevice 800, 850, and an entire system may be made up of multiplecomputing devices 800, 850 communicating with each other.

Computing device 850 includes a processor 852, memory 864, aninput/output device such as a display 854, a communication interface866, and a transceiver 868, among other components. The device 850 mayalso be provided with a storage device, such as a microdrive or otherdevice, to provide additional storage. Each of the components 850, 852,864, 854, 866, and 868, are interconnected using various buses, andseveral of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard or inother manners as appropriate.

The processor 852 can process instructions for execution within thecomputing device 850, including instructions stored in the memory 864.The processor may also include separate analog and digital processors.The processor may provide, for example, for coordination of the othercomponents of the device 850, such as control of user interfaces,applications run by device 850, and wireless communication by device850.

Processor 852 may communicate with a user through control interface 858and display interface 856 coupled to a display 854. The display 854 maybe, for example, a TFT LCD display or an OLED display, or otherappropriate display technology. The display interface 856 may compriseappropriate circuitry for driving the display 854 to present graphicaland other information to a user. The control interface 858 may receivecommands from a user and convert them for submission to the processor852. In addition, an external interface 862 may be provide incommunication with processor 852, so as to enable near areacommunication of device 850 with other devices. External interface 862may provide, for example, for wired communication (e.g., via a dockingprocedure) or for wireless communication (e.g., via Bluetooth or othersuch technologies).

The memory 864 stores information within the computing device 850. Inone implementation, the memory 864 is a computer-readable medium. In oneimplementation, the memory 864 is a volatile memory unit or units. Inanother implementation, the memory 864 is a non-volatile memory unit orunits. Expansion memory 874 may also be provided and connected to device850 through expansion interface 872, which may include, for example, aSIMM card interface. Such expansion memory 874 may provide extra storagespace for device 850, or may also store applications or otherinformation for device 850. Specifically, expansion memory 874 mayinclude instructions to carry out or supplement the processes describedabove, and may include secure information also. Thus, for example,expansion memory 874 may be provide as a security module for device 850,and may be programmed with instructions that permit secure use of device850. In addition, secure applications may be provided via the SIMMcards, along with additional information, such as placing identifyinginformation on the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner.

The memory may include for example, flash memory and/or MRAM memory, asdiscussed below. In one implementation, a computer program product istangibly embodied in an information carrier. The computer programproduct contains instructions that, when executed, perform one or moremethods, such as those described above. The information carrier is acomputer- or machine-readable medium, such as the memory 864, expansionmemory 874, memory on processor 852, or a propagated signal.

Device 850 may communicate wirelessly through communication interface866, which may include digital signal processing circuitry wherenecessary. Communication interface 866 may provide for communicationsunder various modes or protocols, such as GSM voice calls, SMS, EMS, orMMS messaging, CDMA, TDMA, PDC, WCDMA, CDMA2000, or GPRS, among others.Such communication may occur, for example, through radio-frequencytransceiver 868. In addition, short-range communication may occur, suchas using a Bluetooth, WiFi, or other such transceiver (not shown). Inaddition, GPS receiver module 870 may provide additional wireless datato device 850, which may be used as appropriate by applications runningon device 850.

Device 850 may also communication audibly using audio codec 860, whichmay receive spoken information from a user and convert it to usabledigital information. Audio codex 860 may likewise generate audible soundfor a user, such as through a speaker, e.g., in a handset of device 850.Such sound may include sound from voice telephone calls, may includerecorded sound (e.g., voice messages, music files, etc.) and may alsoinclude sound generated by applications operating on device 850.

The computing device 850 may be implemented in a number of differentforms, as shown in the Figure. For example, it may be implemented as acellular telephone 880. It may also be implemented as part of asmartphone 882, personal digital assistant, or other similar mobiledevice.

This document describes features of a user interface related to localsearch processes, which may be implemented in J2ME, BREW, or anotherapplicable language or environment, such as PocketPC. In addition,although the Figures show a simple map display, the actual map maydiffer from that shown. For example, satellite images for comparablegeographic areas may be shown instead of the map. Also, a “hybrid”display may be used, where the background is satellite images, with anoverlay of streets in particular drawn colors with labels.

Also, the images displayed for mobile devices may be altered from thoseshown on full-featured computers. In particular, because the screens onmobile devices are generally smaller than those on full-featuredcomputers, labels (such as street names laid over the correspondinglines that represent the streets) may be repeated more often for mobileimages to ensure that the labels appear on the smaller mobile displays.

The remote system may be configured so as to recognize requests frommobile devices and to respond accordingly. For example, headerinformation in the requests may identify certain devices as mobile, andthe system may use that information to route the requests to certain webservers or to employ certain formatting in a web server. For example, asystem may select different tiles having more frequently repeating labelinformation for mobile devices, as explained above. The system may alsoformat the information using a mobile format such as WML, iMode, orxHTML.

The systems and all of the functional operations described in thisspecification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or incomputer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structural meansdisclosed in this specification and structural equivalents thereof, orin combinations of them. The techniques can be implemented as one ormore computer program products, i.e., one or more computer programstangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine readablestorage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or tocontrol the operation of, data processing apparatus, e.g., aprogrammable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. A computerprogram (also known as a program, software, software application, orcode) can be written in any form of programming language, includingcompiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form,including as a stand alone program or as a module, component,subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. Acomputer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A programcan be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data,in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiplecoordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to beexecuted on one computer or on multiple computers at one site ordistributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communicationnetwork.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform the described functions by operating oninput data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can alsobe performed by, and apparatus can be implemented as, special purposelogic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or anASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally,the processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memoryor a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computerare a processor for executing instructions and one or more memorydevices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer willalso include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transferdata to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data,e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. Informationcarriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and datainclude all forms of non volatile memory, including by way of examplesemiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memorydevices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks;magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor andthe memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purposelogic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, aspects of the describedtechniques can be implemented on a computer having a display device,e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor,for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointingdevice, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provideinput to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide forinteraction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to theuser can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback,auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can bereceived in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

The techniques can be implemented in a computing system that includes aback-end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes amiddleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes afront-end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical userinterface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with animplementation, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, orfront-end components. The components of the system can be interconnectedby any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., acommunication network. Examples of communication networks include alocal area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., theInternet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, although particular graphical representations were shown asexemplary in the Figures, other representations that are helpful to auser may also be employed. Accordingly, other embodiments are within thescope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:receiving, by a computing system, a first search query that was typed bya first user input at a computing device into a search input box of amapping application program at the computing device; parsing, by thecomputing system, the first search query in order to determine that oneor more words in the first search query name a particular geographicallocation; conducting, by the computing system, a search for first searchresults that: (i) are responsive to the first search query, and (ii)identify respective first businesses that are geographically locatedaround the particular geographical location that is named by the one ormore words in the first search query; sending, by the computing systemand for receipt by the computing device, information that identifies thefirst search results, so as to cause the computing device to present adisplay of a first geographical area of a map with first graphicalinterface elements that identify the first search results overlaying themap at locations that correspond to locations on the map of the firstbusinesses; receiving, by the computing system, a second search querythat was typed by a second user input at the computing device into thesearch input box of the mapping application program into which the firstsearch query was typed, wherein the second search query does not includeone or more words that name any geographical location; parsing, by thecomputing system, the second search query in order to identify whetherthe second search query includes one or more words that name anygeographical location; receiving, by the computing system, an indicationof a geographical location that is indicated by a presently-displayedgeographical area of the map that is being presented by the computingdevice; conducting, by the computing system, a search for second searchresults that: (i) are responsive to the second search query, and (ii)identify respective second businesses that are geographically locatedaround the geographical location that is indicated by thepresently-displayed geographical area of the map that is being presentedby the computing device; and sending, by the computing system and forreceipt by the computing device, information that identifies the secondsearch results, so as to cause the computing device to present a displayof a second geographical area of the map with second graphical interfaceelements that identify the second search results overlaying the map atlocations that correspond to locations on the map of the secondbusinesses.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein afterthe computing device presents the display of the first geographical areaof the map with the first graphical interface elements overlaying themap, and before the second search query was typed by the second userinput at the computing device, the computing device receives a userinput to pan the presentation of the map from the first geographicalarea to the second geographical area.
 3. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, wherein: the computing device presented another geographicalarea of the map before the first search query was typed by the firstuser input at the computing device; and the computing device presentedthe first geographical area of the map as a result of the computingdevice having sent the first search query for receipt by the computingsystem and having received from the server system the information thatidentifies the first search results.
 4. The computer-implemented methodof claim 1, wherein the one or more words that name the particulargeographical location is one or more words that name a zip code or acity.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein theindication of the geographical location that is indicated by thepresently-displayed geographical area of the map is an indication of acenterpoint of the presently-displayed geographical area of the map. 6.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the indication ofthe geographical location that is indicated by the presently-displayedgeographical area of the map was appended to the second search query. 7.The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprisingconverting, by the computing system, the one or more words that name theparticular geographical location into geographical coordinates.
 8. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the search for thesecond search results that uses the presently-displayed geographicalarea of the map is conducted by the computing system as a result of thecomputing system having identified that the second search query does notinclude one or more words that name any geographical location.
 9. Anon-transitory computer-readable storage device including instructionsthat, when executed by a programmable processor, cause performance ofoperations that comprise: receiving, by a computing system, a firstsearch query that was typed by a first user input at a computing deviceinto a search input box of a mapping application program at thecomputing device; parsing, by the computing system, the first searchquery in order to determine that one or more words in the first searchquery name a particular geographical location; conducting, by thecomputing system, a search for first search results that: (i) areresponsive to the first search query, and (ii) identify respective firstbusinesses that are geographically located around the particulargeographical location that is named by the one or more words in thefirst search query; sending, by the computing system and for receipt bythe computing device, information that identifies the first searchresults, so as to cause the computing device to present a display of afirst geographical area of a map with first graphical interface elementsthat identify the first search results overlaying the map at locationsthat correspond to locations on the map of the first businesses;receiving, by the computing system, a second search query that was typedby a second user input at the computing device into the search input boxof the mapping application program into which the first search query wastyped, wherein the second search query does not include one or morewords that name any geographical location; parsing, by the computingsystem, the second search query in order to identify whether the secondsearch query includes one or more words that name any geographicallocation; receiving, by the computing system, an indication of ageographical location that is indicated by a presently-displayedgeographical area of the map that is being presented by the computingdevice; conducting, by the computing system, a search for second searchresults that: (i) are responsive to the second search query, and (ii)identify respective second businesses that are geographically locatedaround the geographical location that is indicated by thepresently-displayed geographical area of the map that is being presentedby the computing device; and sending, by the computing system and forreceipt by the computing device, information that identifies the secondsearch results, so as to cause the computing device to present a displayof a second geographical area of the map with second graphical interfaceelements that identify the second search results overlaying the map atlocations that correspond to locations on the map of the secondbusinesses.
 10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device ofclaim 9, wherein after the computing device presents the display of thefirst geographical area of the map with the first graphical interfaceelements overlaying the map, and before the second search query wastyped by the second user input at the computing device, the computingdevice receives a user input to pan the presentation of the map from thefirst geographical area to the second geographical area.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein: thecomputing device presented another geographical area of the map beforethe first search query was typed by user input at the computing device;and the computing device presented the first geographical area of themap as a result of the computing device having sent the first searchquery for receipt by the computing system and having received from theserver system the information that identifies the first search results.12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 9,wherein the one or more words that name the particular geographicallocation is one or more words that name a zip code or a city.
 13. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein theindication of the geographical location that is indicated by thepresently-displayed geographical area of the map is an indication of acenterpoint of the presently-displayed geographical area of the map. 14.The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 9, whereinthe indication of the geographical location that is indicated by thepresently-displayed geographical area of the map was appended to thesecond search query.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable storagedevice of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise converting,by the computing system, the one or more words that name the particulargeographical location into geographical coordinates.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage device of claim 9, wherein thesearch for the second search results that uses the presently-displayedgeographical area of the map is conducted by the computing system as aresult of the computing system having identified that the second searchquery does not include one or more words that name any geographicallocation.